Ham boiler



Nov. 20 1923.

A. GOBEL ET AL Y HAM BOILER Filed July 24. 1922 2 sheet -sheet 1 awve/nbozS (lac ma Nov. 20 1923.

1,474,713 I A. GOBEL ET AL HAM BOILER Filed July 24. 1 22 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' 7a 5 2. ,23 v mg 4? Id 24 /7 4 :II \v e V l 9 M fi k wa nomtoz wwmq metal containers having the general form Patented Nov. 2%, 1923.

"HAM BOILER.

Application filed July 24, 1922. Serial No. 576,929; i

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, AnoLr Gonnr, FREDRIOK' HARNIsoH, and Eivrrn C. 1JANK'E, all citizens ofthe United States, and residing in Brooklyn,.county of Kings, State of- New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ham Boilers, of which the following is aspecification.

Thepresent invention relates to an inn proved apparatus for holding hams or similar food articles under pressure during the process of boiling; and the prlncipal ob ect of the invention is the provision of a simple, inexpenslve, reliable and durable apparatus for the above purpose, which can be'easilyand automatically operated in the quickest;

possible time, is easily cleaned andcan be packed into a minimum ofspace. Various devices have been proposed having in view the compression of the ham and its auto matic retention, but these have hitherto involved the use of external springs, levers and ratchets or the like which not only catch dirt and grease but take up a great deal of room thereby lessening the number "of ham boilers which can be packed intoa given vat at once.

We have found, moreover, that, by suppressing the use of springs for compressing the meat, a greater proportion of'the liquor is preservedin the meat, thereby increasing its weight and its food value. At the same time certain features of the invention may be used either with 'orwithout springs on the cover or compressing memberl 7 Certain preferred'fo'rms of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figurel is a top plan view of the complete apparatus in one form; Fig

ure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same on the line 22 in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a partial sectional view of a modified form.

While it is, of course, possible to apply our invention to containers of almost any practicable shape, we prefer to use sheet shown in the drawings in plan and vertical section at 10. -These are made of such a size as to recelve each a smgle ham or the like; which, while lying on the bottom of.

the container and being confined all around, is subjected to manual pressure by means of the cover or compressing member 11.

This member preferably has the same gen eral contour in plan as the container, and

fits itquite loosely, so to-beeasily inserted over the. ham and to allow, free escapeof steam all around it; This cover is provided w th one or more catches (preferably two) which cooperate with a retaining: member or members-within the casing'in such a manner as automatically to secure the cover in any position to which it descends. 1 When so securedthe cover resists the upward thrust caused by the resiliency or thefswellingtendency ofthe ham, g

The preferred form :of apparatus comprises a' double catch-which is" shown as formed of two fiat plates 12 and -13, guided so as to slide longitudinally and toward or away from each other b'etween'the guides 14:

and'15. Cross bars 16 at intervals holdthese,

plates in constantcontact withthe top. of the cover. The ends of the plates'12'and 13. are

preferably bevelled as shown so. as to form teeth which are automatically forcedyinto the spaces between theqteeth of the ratchets 1;7,and"l8 within the end walls of the container 1 0. This is preferably accomplished byvmounting a spiral spring-19 between-the upturned ends 20 and 21 of the plates 12 and 13. A bar 22 fixed to one of these ends (as 20) extends parallelto the cover and through an opening in the other end (as 21). The spring-19 surrounds thisbar and is held in place by it. A cross bar 16 on eitherside' forms-a stop against which one or the other upturned end 20, 21, is pressed by the spring,

thus limiting the outward movement. of the plates-12 and 13when the cover isremoved.

WVhilethe ratchet teeth 17 and18' may be formed and applied to the container invariousways, we prefer to 'forinopposed' openings or'WindoWs in the ends of the container over which are brazed reinforcing pieces 23,

24, furnished with the teeth 17 and '18, so it placed as to come opposite the windows in,

question.

From what'has been w described the operation of the device is clear. The ham having.

been placed'in the bottom of the container, 1

the cover is lowered upon it, preferably with one end at first lower than the other, to bring the plate, 12 or 13, at the lower endfirst in engagement, with the corresponding ratchet. The cover is finally pressed into horizontal position over the ham, and strong pressure is exerted downward uponv both ends of the cover, compressing the ham to v the desired degree. As the cover descends, the tips of the plates 12 and 13 slide down over the beveled teeth of the ratchets, springing into the successive spaces between 7 these teeth, so" that, when the operator finally ceases to p-ressonthe cover the enfirst released by pressing down on the right hand end of the cover (in Figure 1) while iturned ends 20, 21.

the container.

economize's room in the boillng vat and'is a at the same time squeezing together the plates 12 and 13 by pressure on their up- The hook on; the end 21 will facilitatelifting the right hand end of the coverfirst, and, as soon as this is accomplished the whole cover can easily be lifted out. If desired a ring 21? may be used to assist in lifting the cover.

In'Figure 3 is shown a modified form in which, instead of providing ratchet teeth at the ends, vertical rows of openings 25 are formed, into which 'theplates are sprung one after the other as the cover is pressed down. In this figure are also shown rollers 26 in place of the 'simplecross bars 16. This may be done to make the bars 12 and 13 move more easily. In Figure 3, also, both upturned ends 20, 21 are shown bent to facilitate lifting the cover. This figure also makesit'clearthat the bar 22 may,'if'desired, be replaced bythe two opposed short pro ections 27, 28,130 hold the spring in place.

Indeed many changes may be introduced without departing from the spirit of themvention, and we'do not limit ourselves to the details herein shown and described.

'It will be se'en th'atour apparatus comprises a. minimum of moving parts to be cleaned and kept in order, and that all of these parts are confined within thelimits of This latter feature greatly valuable element of our invention.

What we claim is 1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a contamer, a compressing member fitting therein, a slidable catch member at each end of the compressing member adapted to secure the same within the container, finger holds on said slidable catch members, anda single spring located between and impinging against said slidable catch members so as to tend to force them apart. g

2. In apparatus of the character described, a container, a cover fitting into the same, two slidably mounted plates on the cover, a single spring located betweenand impinging against the bent ends of said plates so as to tend to force them apart, and means on the container to be engaged by the outer ends of said plates.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a' container, a cover fitting into the same, having parallel guiding ribs, two plates slidably mounted between said ribs,

a spring mounted between said plates and adapted to force-them apart, and means on the container to be engaged by the outer ends of said plates.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a container, a cover fitting into the same, two slidably mounted plat-es on said cover having their inner ends turned upward, means for guiding said plates, a

spring adapted to forcesaid plates apart,

the outer ends of said plates.

5. In apparatus of the character described, acontainer, a cover fitting into the same, ratchet teeth inside of the container at each end thereof, two slidably mounted locking plates on the cover adapted to engage said'two ratchets, and a spring adapted to press said plates into locking position.

In testimony whereof we have hereto set our hands'on this 12th day of July, 1922.

ADOLF sonar. 1 FREDRICK. HARNISGH. EMIL JANKE.

and means onthe container to be engaged by 

